Spring plank



Sept. 13, 1938. D. M. LIGHT SPRING PLANK Filed Nov. 22, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 13, 1938. D. M. LIGHT SPRING PLANK Filed NOV. 22,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. M LIGHT Sept. 13, 1938.

SPRING PLANK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed'Nov. 22, 1933 IZZ/ /1/// PatentedSept. .13, 1938 UNITED- STATES P T-slur OFFICE SPRING PLANK V David M.Light, Evanston, n1., assignor to Amer-i:

can Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a'corpora- I:

tion of New Jersey Application November 22, 1933,-Serlal No. 699,098

15 Claims. (.01. 105-2082 This invention pertains to spring planks.

In some types of car trucks difiiculty has been experienced due tobreakage of spring planks,

particularly since the adoption of higher speeds by railroads. Theprincipal reason for this is the rigidity of the truck due to fixedlysecuring a spring plank to the opposite side frames.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a flexible springplank arrangement for frames of a truck together by means of anintermediate adapter interposed between the side frames and the springplank.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly'pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended .hereto. 25 In the drawings, whichillustrate embodiments of the device and wherein like referencecharacters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1'is a fragmentarysectional top plan view through the spaced columns of a truck showingthe application of a spring plank embodying the invention to the springseat of said truck; Figure 2 is a sectional elevationtaken'substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a transverse elevation taken substantially in the plane asindicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1; g

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view corresponding toFigure 1 of a modified form of spring plank connection; a

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially on thecenter line of -the spring plank shown in Figure 4; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of another modified form ofspring plank and adapter; Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevationtaken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 'L-l of Figure6;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation 50 taken substantially inthe plane as indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional elevation corresponding to Figure 8showing a modified form of resilient connection between the spring plank55 and adapter;

plank adapted to flexibly tie the spaced side,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of yet another modified forniofspring. plank connection;

Figure 11 is a'fragmentary transverse sectional elevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line |lll of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is. a fragmentary top plan view of yet another modified formof connection between thespring plank and the side frame;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view of a yet furthermodified form of connection between the spring plank and sideframe;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line ll-l4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially in theplane as indicated by I the line |5'|5 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a still further modification of a spring plank embodyingthe invention Figure 17 is a sectional elevation taken substantiallyinthe plane as indicated by the line ll-ll ofFl ure 16; Figure 18 is asectional elevation of a different modified form of spring plankembodying the invention. Referring first of all more particularly to the.construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the side frame 20may be of the usual truss construction which is conventional in thepresent side frames, and includes the spring seat 22 and the spacedcolumns 24. The truck is provided with the spring'group 26 provided withthe spring plate 28 seated on the adapter '30 which is maintained inproper position on the spring seat 22 by reception of the dowel 32 in asuitable aperture 34 providedin the spring seat.

The adapter is provided with the' side flanges 36 and receives thespringplank 38, the spring Dalman two-level type, the truck side frame 50being provided with the spring seat 42 and the spaced columns 54. Theadapter 56 is positioned on the spring seat 52 by means of the dowels 58and is provided with the. upstanding flanges Ell for reception of thespring plank 62, said spring plank being positioned by means of thedowel 64 provided on the adapter and extending upwardly through anaperture provided in said spring plank. The resilient tongue or member66 engages the spring plank adjacent one end thereof, the opposite endbeing fixed by insertion between the adapter and the spring plate 68 ofthe spring group 10. V

In the construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the adapteris provided with the positioning means 82 and the side flanges 84 forthe reception of the spring plank 86. The spring plank is positioned onthe adapter by the reception of the dowels 88 in suitable apertures inthe adapter, a flat spring being riveted onto the spring plank as at 92and resiliently engaging the under side of the adapter for retaining thespring plank in engagement with the ledge of the adapter. I v

In the connection illustrated in Figure 9, the spring plank I00 isreceived between the upstanding flanges I02 of the adapter I04 andpositioned thereon by means of the dowels I06 which may be carried byeither the spring plank or the adapter, the resilient connection betweenthe spring plank and adapter taking the form of the bolt I08 extending.through suitable aligned apertures in the adapter and spring plank, thecoil spring IIO being disposed between the adapter and a washer II2retained on the bolt by means of the nut II4.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the side frame I20is provided with the spring seat I22 for the reception of the springgroup I24. A spring plank ledge I26 is disposed below the spring seatI22 and is provided with the spaced upstanding dowels I28 receivable insuitable apertures formed in the spring plank I30. The spring I32 isriveted to the spring plank I30 as at I34 and engages the under side ofthe ledge I26 for resiliently retaining the spring plank in.

der side of the spring plank as at I34 resiliently engages the underside of the ledge I26.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 inclusive, the truckside frame I40 is provided with the spaced columns I42 and'the spring.

seat I44. The spring group (not shown) is provided with the spring plateI46 supported on the spring seat I44 and extends inwardly beyond saidseat. In this construction the side frame is provided with the springplank ledge I48 provided withspaced dowels I50 adapted to position thespring plank I52 by engagement in suitable apertures formed therein. Inthis case the bowed spring I54 is sprung into position between thespring plate and the spring plank.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 16 and 1'7, the side frameI60 is provided with the coil spring group I62 having the spring plateI64. The spring plank I66 is provided with the adapter I68 rivetedthereto as at I10, said adapter being provided with the bearing I12receivable in a suitable socket I14 provided on the side frame below thespring seat I16 of the side frame. The

resiliently retaining the spring plank in association with the sideframe.

- In the construction illustrated in Figure 18, the side frame I90 isprovided with the spring seat I92 for the reception of the coil springgroup I94. The spring seat portion I92 is provided with the inwardlyextending projection or extension I96 having the dowel or dowels I98receivable in apertures formed in the spring plank 200. The spring plankis provided with the spring 202 riveted to the spring plank as at 204and resiliently engaging below the projection I96 for associating thespring plank with the side frame.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a truck, the combination of a side frame, resilient meansassociated with said side frame for supporting a load carrying member, aspring plank supported by said side frame, and vertically actingresilient means having cooperative engagement with said side frame andspring plank to provide a flexible connection therebetween.

2. In a truck, the combination of a side frame,

ative engagement with said side frame and spring plank to provide aflexible connection the'rebe-' tween. I

3. In a truck, the combination of a side frame, an adapter supported onsaid side frame, a spring having .a spring cap seated on said adapter, aspring plank supported on said adapter, and resilient means interposedbetween said spring cap and side frame and engaging said spring plank.

4. In a truck, the combination of a side frame,

an adapter supported on said side frame, a spring having a spring capseatedon said adapter, a spring plank supported on said adapter, spacedmeans loosely connecting said adapter and spring plank, and resilientmeans interposed between said spring cap and side frame and engagingsaid spring plank. I

5. In a truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat, aledge disposed below said seat, a spring plank supported on said ledge,means for loosely interlocking said spring plank to said ledge, and afiat spring secured to said spring plank and engaging said ledge.

6; In a truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring 'seat, aledge disposed below said seat, a spring plank supported on said ledge,means for loosely interlocking said spring plank to said ledge, and aflat spring secured to said spring plank and engaging said side frame.

'1. In a truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat, aledge disposed below said spring seat, said ledge being provided with aboss,.a spring plank interlocking with said boss and supported by saidledge, said spring plank having resilient means secured thereto andengaging said ledge to provide a flexible connection between said springplank and ledge and to hold the same in said interlocking relationship.

8. In a truck, the combination of aside frame having a spring seat, aledge disposed below said spring seat, said ledge being provided with aand a spring plank engaging said boss and supported by said ledge, saidspring plank having a flat spring secured thereto and engaging theunderside of said ledge to provide a flexible connection between saidspring plank and ledge and to hold the same in said interlockingrelationship.

9. In a truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat,said spring seat being provided with a ledge in substantial alignmenttherewith, said ledge being provided with a boss, a spring planksupported on said ledge and engaging said boss, said spring plank beingprovided with a flat spring secured thereto and engaging the undersideof said ledge.

10. In a truck, a combination of a side frame, an adapter supported onsaid side frame, a spring plank supported on said adapter, and meansprovidingra vertically flexible connection between said spring plank andadapter, said means substantially preventing horizontal relativemovement between said spring plank and side frame.

11. In a truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat,said side frame having a laterally disposed extension adjacent saidspring seat, a spring plank supported on said extension, means forflexibly connecting said spring plank to said side frame, said meanspreventing relative horizontal movement of said spring plank withrespect to said side frame, and means connected to said spring plank andengaging said extension preventing vertical displacement of said springplank with respect to said side frame.

12. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigidportion, end portions adapted to rest on side frames and resilientportions joining the central portion to the end portions.

13. A spring plank for car trucks, said spring plank having an elongatedcentral rigid portion, end portions adapted to rat on the side frames ofsaid truck, and resilient portions joining the central portion to theend said end portions being provided with means for engaging the sideframes, said means being so constructed and arranged that substantiallateral motion between the spring plank and side frames is prevented,said means including deformations in said end portions adapted to engagemeans on said side frames.

14. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigidportion and end portions adapted to rest on spaced side frames of'saidtruck, resilient portions adjacent said end portions permitting relativemovement of a portion of said spring plank with respect to said sideframes, said spring plank and side frames being provided with interengagz means so constructed and arranged that substantial lateral movementbetween said spring plank and side frames is prevented, said meansincluding a dowel and opening connection.

15. A spring plank for car trucks, said spring plank having an elongatedcentral rigid portion,

end portions adapted to reston the side frames of said truck, resilientportions joining the central portion to the end portions, said endportions being provided with means for engaging the side frames, saidmeans being so constructed and arranged that substantial lateral motionbetween the spring plank and side frames is prevented, said meansincluding deformations in said end portions adapted to engage means onsaid side frames, and means including a dowel and opening connection.

- DAVID M. LIGHT.

